Internet Service Providers

Compiled by Chris Dow. Please send any info you find missing/wrong or comments.
Last updated Wed Dec 17 18:21:38 PST 1997

This URL is http://www.thelen.org/isp.html
Update your links if that's not how you got to it.

Introduction

This document lists companies who connect home PCs to the Internet. The audience is intended to be Real Humans who aren't using this connection for their primary occupation. In other words this is for someone who wants access to Internet from home for entertainment, personal amusement, or to support a secondary consulting enterprise, not for full-time connections to Internet, as would be needed by a company, although some of these companies provide that, too. For now, I'm ignoring TIA (if you don't know what this is, never mind) because there are plenty of places that have dial-up PPP/SLIP access where you don't have to know anything about unix to get it.

Acronyms

Here are some acronyms used in this document:

ISP: Internet Service Provider. Who you pay to get on the 'net.
POP Account: an email address based on the Post Office Protocol
POP: Point of Presence. The distance between you and your ISP's POP is what determines if the call is local or long distance (intralata long distance is very expensive in the Bay Area).

What To Look For In An ISP

Here are some things to look for in an internet provider:

Metered vs. Unlimited Access

Do you want to stay logged in for a long time? For example, are you using the email account to stay connected to work while working from home or taking care of sick children? Metered access can add up in that situation, and even if your employer will reimburse you, it can still be a pain. On the other hand, if you can restrain yourself, then metered access can be much cheaper.

Does the ISP charge extra for World Wide Web pages?

Some providers give you space for Web pages and don't charge you extra for publishing on the Web, while others do. If you don't want to be a Web publisher and you can be frugal with time (see above), the latter can be cheaper. Keep in mind, however, that putting good info on the Web can be beneficial to your career.

Does the ISP provide space for anonymous ftp?

Some providers give you space for putting documents out for anonymous ftp, some don't, and some charge extra for it. As above, if you don't need it, this may be cheaper, but if you do need it, check the charges.

Does the ISP provide a unix shell account with the service?

If this is something you want, find out if it's extra. If you have some type of X Windows server software that will work with PPP/IP, there are some interesting programs available under X and not other platforms (the X program XV does everything that most people want to do with images for web related viewing). This would be one reason to want a unix shell account.

How much disk space is included in the monthly charge?

This can be a real money hole. If you want to keep some things in the disk space that comes with the the unix account (assuming it's provided by the ISP), you can spend a lot of money if they have a small amount of disk space included in the monthly charge.

How much are extra POP accounts?

Does more than one person in your family want to get email through PPP? This can add up if the monthly charge for an extra POP account is even as much as %50 the the cost of the PPP account.

Things you might want to be wary of

If an ISP tells you they do not offer Web home pages to their users because of security, then you should be suspect. Either that isn't the real reason, or they don't have sufficient understanding of the way the web works to (IMO) be running an ISP service. Most sites offer this, so it's at least possible to have reasonable security while offering web pages, if not particularly easy. The question is: Do you want to have top-notch sysadmins or not? Also, be wary of any policies that seem arbitrary. If they can't explain their policies to your satisfaction, either they don't know what they are doing or they have poor interpersonal skills--making customer support difficult. Remember--you are paying them, so they must satisfy you. If the answer to a query is "security", make them explain the issues so you understand it. Again, they work for YOU, and the market in the Bay Area is so competitive that you can always find someone who'll do what you want at a reasonable price.

In the Bay Area

@Home Network

@Home Network is a cable-based internet service available in a couple of Bay Area comunities, and a few others nation wide. While small at this time, they will be bigger as time goes on. The company's run by a Hearst, afterall.

Able Technical Services

Able offers several types of internet connections, as well as ftp and Web space. Here is the Personal Network Connection Info.

Access Internet Communications, Inc.

Access Internet communcations provides a full range of personal and corporate connectivity services. They are futher described at this link.

Access InfoSystems

Access InfoSystems runs Community Net, giving net access in Solano, Napa and Contra Costa counties. Send mail to info@community.net for pricing.

AENet

AENet offers internet access from Sunnyvale, CA. The above referrence points to their prices & info.

Aimnet

Aimnet offers "a complete range of connectivity options, security and firewall services, WWW storefronts, and WWW site development." (From their home page) Here are their connectivity options

A-Link

A-Link is an ISP in Sunnyvale which covers area code 408, plus parts of 650, 415, and 510510. That's basically the South Bay. Here is information on their personal access services. Here is some information regarding business accounts.

Alternet

AlterNet has provided uucp services to individuals and corporations for years. They have now branched into providing internet access. Their personal solution is called AlterDial. They offer metered or flat rate unlimited usage service through high-speed modems. They do not appear to offer an ISDN solution at this time. Here is the info on AlterDial.

APlatform

APlatform offers shell accounts and SLIP/PPP accounts from their POP in Mountain View, CA. Here are their rates.

Bay Area Internet Solutions

Bay Area Internet Solutions provides many internet services from San Jose. Here is their dialup information.

Beckemeyer Development

Beckemeyer Development offers internet access via local telephone calls from Alameda, Clayton, Concord, Berkeley, Bishop Ranch, Castro Valley, Danville, Dublin, El Sobrante, Hayward, Lafayette, Moraga, Oakland, Orinda, Piedmont, Pinole, Richmond, San Leandro, San Ramon, Tiburon, Walnut Creek, and portions of San Francisco. Here are their connectivity options .

Best

Best offers unix shells, PPP/SLIP accounts, and fulltime connections of individual machines or subnets. They have the added charm of a storefront in Mountain View, Ca. Here is the pricing info .

Catch 22

Catch 22 is another internet access provider in the Bay Area. Here are their local calling areas, and here is the info on their individual access program.

CCnet

CCnet offers internet connections via shell accounts, SLIP/PPP accounts, and leased lines (56k to T1). I can't find their prices in their web page, but here is the description of their PPP/SLIP services.

CERFNet

CERFNet provides high- and low-speed connections to academic instititutions and individual. Here is the info on their services for individuals.

CRL

CRL offers internet access in many places across the US, including the San Fransisco bay area. Here is their service info.

Community ConneXion

Well, you gotta read their page, but imagine an ISP in Berkeley ("Internet to the People!"). Here's their access info.

Concentric Research

Concentric recently moved to the Bay Area from Michigan (Good move, IMO). Here is info about their services and rates.

Cruzio

This is a low-cost BBS/ISP in Santa Cruz county. Here is their pricing.

Datamax

Datamax is an internet presence and service provider based in Sunnyvale. Here is the info on their personal internet access services.

Direct Network Access, Inc.

DNAI provides internet access in San Francisco and the East Bay. Here is their service/pricing info.

Epoch Internet

Epoch Internet is a nation-wide internet service provider.

FlashNet

Flashnet is an ISP in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Dallas / Ft. Worth, Houston, Austin, Philladelphia, New York City, Chicago, Baltimore, Denver, Atlanta, Oklahoma City, and Little Rock. Their main page describes their services.

GeoNet

GeoNet is a bay area ISP providing high-speed conectivity for businesses. Here is a link to their business services.

The Grid

The Grid provides up to 56K access to than 1000 communities across the state. Here is their service information.

Holonet

Holonet provides internet access nationwide. Here is the info on their HoloSLIP SLIP/PPP service.

Hooked.Net

Hooked provides internet services and a home for web pages in San Francisco. Here is the pricing.

HyperSurf

HyperSurf is an ISP in Fremont with a pretty snazzy web page. Here is info on their products and services.

IBM

Well, it looks like Big Blue is offering internet access, too. This is even world-wide, for you frequent travelers. Here are the fee schedules.

Idiom

Idiom is an internet service provider with local access from the north Penninsula, East Bay, and Marin County. Here is info on their services.

Infoasis

Infoasis is an ISP in Marin. Here is information about their services.

INOW

Information Now provides Internet Access from Milpitas, CA. Here are their prices.

Innetix

Innetix provides a wide array of services. They are better described here.

Internet Avenue

Internet Avenue offers 28.8 PPP dialup accounts,dedicated lines 56k,T1, Web page housing and development, Server Colocation, and Internet Software development. Here is info on their dialup services.

Internex

Internex provides internet access in the Bay Area via ISDN. They support ISDN cards for PCs (ISA Bus) and external ISDN converters for PCs, LANs, and Macs. I include them here because Real People can afford it. Click here for more details.

InterServe

Interserve provides personal and business internet access from many parts of the Bay Area. Here are their Personal Account Fees .

IPAC Internet Public Access Corporation

IPAC provides all kinds of internet services in the San Jose area. Here are the dialup prices.

ISP Networks

"ISP Networks is an Internet service provider based in Santa Clara, California" -- from their web page. Here is the list of services and pricing.

JPSnet

JPSnet offers local dial up access throughout California, Washington, Oregon and Utah. Here is some pricing info.

KEPNET

KEPNET is a neighborhood service provider serving small organizations and computer novices with all the popular on-line computer services.

KudoNet On-Line Services

Kudonet offers internet services from Sunnyvale, with POPs in San Jose, South San Jose, Fremont, and Mountain View. Here is info on their PPP/SLIP services.

Line X Communications

LineX Provides internet access in Marin County. Here is where they talk about their internet connection service.

Market.Net

Market.NET offers high-speed dedicated and leased-line SLIP and PPP connections in the San Francisco Bay Area. Here are their connection options.

Media City

MediaCity offers internet access from its POPs in the 451, 510, and 408 area codes. They have a storefront on Bryant Street in Palo Alto. Here is info on their products and services .

meernet

meernet offers a variety of IP services. Their POP is in Mountain View. Here is their service info.

The Little Garden

The Little Garden is now part of Best Internet Communications, Inc.

MCI

MCI [you know, the company that took on the largest, most powerful company in the universe and won, but now just irritates us with incessant calls about "Friends Family"?] will soon be providing internet access to the whole country via internetMCI.

NBN

North Bay Network provides internet services to the northern San Francisco Bay Area. Here is the info on their IP services.

NanoSpace

NanoSpace provides internet access from POPs in Palo Alto, Fremont, Milpitas, Redwood City, and Sunnyvale. Here is information on their Personal Access Accounts.

NETCOM On-Line Communications

Netcom now qualifies for this list, since NetCruiser now uses and provides a WinSock TCP/IP interface. Here is information on NetCruiser.

NetGate
NetGate povides internet access in the south San Francisco Bay area. Here is there dialup pricing.
NetMagic

Netmagic

Netmagic Information Systems, is located in Campbell, California, and local to the San Jose area, with local access numbers in the 408, 415, and 510 area codes. Here is a link to there services.

NetWizards

NetWizards is an ISP with an emphasis on service. Here is info on their service and rates.

Norcov Research

Located in El Cerrito, Norcov provides shell accounts, SLIP/PPP space for Web Pages. Here is a list of their internet services.

Optni

Optni is a full-service internet service provider. Here is the info on there services.

Pacific Bell

Pacific Bell is now offering internet services. I think they might make my list shorter in the long run. Here is the info on their home services.

Portal

Portal has been offering shell accounts for a while. Now they're offering SLIP and PPP, too. Here are the prices.

Prado Internet Access, Inc.

Prado provides internet access all over the place, and the 510 area code is one of the places. Here is info on their services and prices.

PSI InterRamp

PSI is yet another access provider. They are in Herndon, VA.

QuakeNet

QuakeNet is a low-cost internet provider in the Bay Area. Here is the dialup pricing.

Rahul.Net (A2I)

Rahul.net is a small company that offers internet access in the San Francisco Bay Area. Here is the pricing info.

Ricochet

Ricochet uses wireless 900MHz modems. It's pretty cool.

Roble Internet Services

Roble Internet Services offers PPP, SLIP, and ISDN connections from Palo Alto, CA. Here are their prices for internet connections.

Saber

Here is a link to their services.

Sasquatch

Sasquatch is a small ISP in Santa Cruz county. One of the areas they specialize in is getting people with disabilities hooked up. Here are their prices.

Scruz-Net

Scruz-Net is an internet service provider in the San Francisco Bay area and the Monterey Bay area. They offer services from part-time PPP via modem to full- and part-time 2B ISDN connections. They have points-of-presence in Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, and San Jose, with one in Monterey opening in the first half of January, 1995, and Mountain View in late February. Click here for their part-time modem connection prices

SenseMedia

SenseMedia is providing internet access in the South Bay and Santa Cruz areas. Here is the info.

Silicon Connections

Silicon Connections is a full featured Internet services company based in Moraga, California, offering complete Internet solutions for individuals and businesses throughout the Bay Area. Silicon Connections specializes in providing a high level of customer support and personal services.. Check out their services.

Sirius Connections

Sirius Connections provides low-cost dial-up SLIP and PPP service for Macintosh, Windows, OS/2, and UNIX users. Here is their info page .

Sonoma Internet

Sonoma Internet provides internet connectivity to Santa Rosa. Here is the info on their connectivity services.

South Valley Internet (Garlic)

South Valley Internet is the only ISP with local dial up for the area including Morgan Hill, San Martin, Gilroy, and Hollister. k Here is more info on their services.

Slip.Net

Slip.Net provides internet access in the Bay Area.

The Diamond Lane

The Diamond Lane provides internet access in the Easxt Bay. Here is their account info.

TransBay Networks

TransBay Networks has been in business in the computer industry for over 10 years. They are a "woman owned, minority owned business and build the best hard drives anywhere!". Here is some more information.

Tsoft Internet Services

Tsoft Internet Services - Tsoft offers high-quality Internet services in the San Francisco Bay Area, from dialup PPP and Shell accounts, to dedicated leased lines and server colocation. Here is some information regarding their PPP service.

Value Net

Value Net is based in Walnut Creek, but has POPs in other locations, too. Here is a list of there account options.

ViaNet

ViaNet provides internet access to the Bay Area and the LA area. Here are their prices.

VSurf Internet

VSurf Internet is a San Francisco Bay Area Internet Service Provider (ISP), specializing in Internet/Intranet Connectivity and Web Site Development. Here is a link to their services.

WebNexus

Webnexus provides internet access and other web services from their POP in San Jose. Here is a list of their internet services.

Web Professionals, Inc.

Web Professionals, Inc. provides internat access from Cupertino. Here is info on their services and rates.

Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link

The WELL no longer offers internet connectivity.

Winstar

Winstar is a full service internet provider for corporate connections 56k through T-1. They provide both private and shared(frame relay) connections. They are located at 595 Market and have 35 offices nationwide, they label the service as WINSTAR but utilize Digex's backbone.

WombatNet

WombatNet is a service provided by the Wombat Internet Guild to put home computers on the Internet. Here are their prices.

YPN

Your Personal Network used to offer internet access and a comprehensive net guide. I can no longer find any info on their internet access stuff, though.